The use of mobile devices is increasing constantly and they have already passed the number of desktop computers. In a few years, a smartphone might well be the only computer you need. Each generation of smartphones is more powerful than before, and soon they will be capable of doing almost anything a computer can. With the growing amount of mobile devices, businesses are struggling to keep up and mobilize their systems. However, smartphones are handy, and can be taken along in almost any job. By mobilizing applications, they will be accessible to more people and have better usability. With mobile applications, a business can make many processes faster and more efficient.

Software Nation is currently working on an enterprise purchase order software for multiple platforms. This purchasing system required different rights for different employees as each employee has a different level of authority in the application. When looking at it from the design point of view, this means personalized screens for each user profile as each user sees and is able to do different things in the application. These functions were very difficult to incorporate into an actual user experience (UX) and graphical user interface (GUI). In this case, different GUI responsive kits were used to save time and build the front-end side of the platform within a very strict timeline.

User experience design is one the most important features of any application regardless of technology or type. The combination of interactive and user experience design results in a competitive product which is adapted for the needs and necessities of modern human interaction. If the user achieves the required and desired result in just a few steps, the design team has succeeded in their job. In the quickly changing digital era, designers need to make sure to follow all the latest trends in design and user experience. Especially when working on enterprise level products for mass consumption with numerous functions, such as the purchase order software in question, designers need to give their best to achieve the best possible user experience on the market.

In terms of mobilization, the main challenge for UX/UI designers today is to mimic and present a stand-alone web app through responsive design on much smaller devices. The general approach in this branch of user experience design is to achieve the same look and feel as on desktop platforms. The responsive time and layout scheme of mobile devices has to be designed and redesigned in several stages until the main features and their workflows are simple and user friendly. About 80% of today’s development is going towards mobile devices, so the importance of mobile design is increasing. In the case of the enterprise purchase order software, the main focus for the Software Nation design team was to make the purchasing software optimized for mobile devices.

Designers have many tricks and effects that they use to achieve a smooth user experience no matter what device the user prefers. The enterprise purchase order software was a result of the complicated correlation of many custom processes. The scalability of these functions was one of the main challenges for our design team. All the processes were under strict supervision and guidance of both the client and Software Nation. Together we were able find a way to implement a responsive view and user feel throughout the platform.

In practice, everything the design team made for the enterprise purchase order system was checked and rechecked numerous times. We exported a live design for various devices daily. Our target users were staff on the move and in various situations. We also had to keep in mind that not every user uses the same device. The way a user interacts with the system and the number of steps they take in the order/purchase process was precisely planned. The number of interactive cells on one particular screen session was changed numerous times until we achieved a perfect workflow. This approach resulted in an outstanding user experience which was the desired outcome for the design team.

In addition, designers also need to work very closely with software developers. To connect the user experience and the design, the designer and developer need to cooperate in all stages of the process. In the case of the purchase order software, the client and Software Nation achieved this by constant back-and-fourth messaging and numerous meetings. Without this cooperation of users, developers and designers, the goal of a complicated enterprise purchase order software would have been impossible to optimize on all different devices.